A San Marcos arts committee has selected three finalists from 54 proposals from across the U.S. to create a "Crossroads" memorial to President Lyndon Baines Johnson and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the intersection of LBJ and MLK drives in San Marcos.

San Marcos Mayor Daniel Guerrero said he thinks the city is unique in having intersecting streets that commemorate the former president and the civil rights leader.

"The Crossroads Project will be a lasting monument to the significant contributions of both to the progress of Civil Rights in the United States," Guerrero said in a statement.

The committee has chosen as the finalists: coLab Studio of Tempe, Ariz.; Aaron Hussey of Baton Rouge, La.; and the team of O'Connell-Hancock of Tucson, Ariz.

The public will have the chance to meet the artists, see their designs and offer comments from 5–8 p.m. on Feb. 16 at the San Marcos Activity Center, 501 E. Hopkins St.

After presentations by each artist and the gathering of public input, the committee will pick the project artist.

Lisa Morris, recreation programs manager for San Marcos, said the city expects the design and construction of the sculpture to take up to a year after the finalist is chosen.

"It comes down to what is going to be appropriate for that site," she said. "How is it going to fit in to how we want our downtown entryway to look?"

She said that the public response and the input the city and committee receive will also play a big role in the final decision.

The city has 248 square feet at the southeast corner of LBJ and MLK for the sculpture. The Crossroads Committee has been working since 2008 to plan and raise funds for the project.

The city and the committee have raised $105,065 for the project, including funding of $100,000 from the City Arts Commission and donations from more than 50 contributors.